Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Markteting Distribution Channel of Ceat Tyres free essay sample

Tire Production totals more than 7. 6 million tires for every annum. Ceat produces Tires for 3 unique markets 1. OEM 2. Substitution tires and 3. Fares. With the end goal of this task we are constraining ourselves to examining the dissemination of the â€Å"Replacement tyres† showcase as it were. The explanation is that tires are offered to OEM’s follow the B2B deals process thus they don't require a detailed dispersion arrange. Additionally tires that are sent out utilize the appropriation system of some other organization. Henceforth the most testing Sales and Distribution arrange is produced for the Replacement Market. The diagnostic Framework enumerating how the factors influence Sales and Distribution of tires has been produced for Truck Tires. The explanation being that, purchasing conduct is distinctive over the Truck, Bus, Passenger Vehicle, 23 wheeler sections. Likewise â€Å"Truck tyres† is the biggest client fragment for any tire organization representing over half of the tire deals. Clearing and sending operators (CFAs) are appended to them. We will compose a custom exposition test on Markteting Distribution Channel of Ceat Tires or then again any comparative point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Regularly the largers areas have 2 or at least 3 CFA’s to cover the locale appropriately. The all out number of CFA’s the nation over is 112. The fundamental working structure of the Ceat Ltd includes the accompanying substances: _ Factory _ DDC _ RDC _ CFA _ Dealers CEAT has three level conveyance structure. The processing plant supplies merchandise to the RDCs (Regional Distribution Centers) and from these RDCs the products are moved to CFAs (Carrying and Forwarding Agents) which go about as godowns for appropriation to the vendors. There is just a single DDC (Divisional Distribution Center) this is at Nashik and is utilized for Storage and Assembly of tires, Tubes and Flaps from the Nashik plant. RDCs are the mother godowns for capacity of merchandise. The tires, cylinders and folds are moved to these from processing plants. The set is shaped at RDCs and lashed. The cylinder is swelled before transportation to RDCs. The Dispatch challans are given to the transporters. At times, the RDCs are required to flexibly the merchandise legitimately to the sellers and receipt them in the necessary arrangement. Ceat has as of late moved from the DDC structure wherein it had 7 DDC’s to the RDC structure, anyway this structure is demonstrating wasteful from the working cost perspective. The stock expense has shot up and accessibility has endured. The measure of wellbeing stock in the framework has likewise gone up. Consequently Ceat is going to move back to the DDC structure over a one year time frame. CFAs are the littler godowns which pull the merchandise from the RDCs. They move the products to the vendors and a receipt should be created. The CFAs pull the merchandise from RDCs as indicated by request. These CFAs at that point disperse the products to the vendors. The Dealers are of three kinds 1. Tire retailers: These are normally multi-brand tire vendors. They stock numerous brands of tires for a specific portion of clients. These can additionally be separated into Truck Dealers and Non-Truck vendors. 2. Broker Dealers: These sellers are utilized normally to guarantee heartland inclusion where the organization circulation arrange is missing. These vendors have their shops in heartland areas or offer to different sellers in heartland areas and therefore upgrade the appropriation reach of the organization. They buy tires in mass and regularly profit of the Turn over limits. 3. Ceat Shoppe: Ceat shoppe is a retail outlet where just ceat tires are sold. This is utilized basically for traveler vehicle and 2 wheeler tire deals. The clients get a scope of tires and exhort about choosing the correct tire while buying from here. They additionally get an awesome after deals administration. The locale under each local office is partitioned into deals regions that are taken care of by the domain heads. The Sales in the area are going by the Regional Manager. The region head takes into account all the tire vendors present in his business domain. Anyway in the Mumbai Regional Office no domains have been given and TL’s are permitted to go anyplace in Mumbai and build up their vendors. This is so in light of the fact that when the Mumbai RO was shaped the greater part of the vendors in the area were faithful to MRF and henceforth it was imperative to change over whatever number as would be prudent. The duties of the RO include: 1. Controlling organization of office. 2. Treatment of everyday work like organization, money, deals/stock tasks/M IS lawful conventions. 3. Audits with deals field staff. 4. Survey of business control. 5. Arranging of information got from the CFA. 6. Support Reconciliation of stocks accounts. . To cover the heartland deals, aside from the merchant sellers, Ceat likewise has selected territory administrators in significant heartland regions. Deals partners work under the zone directors and are liable for all the sellers in a given domain in the heartland advertise. Anyway the heartland showcase is a test as the organization doesn't have a CFA over yonder and accessibility is consistently an issue because of the remoteness of the district. The Territory chiefs are given an itinerary item which has been chosen onsidering the best inclusion and least expense and excursion cycle. Joined underneath is an example itinerary item: Problems with existing structure: 1. The efficiency of deals armada is the least for CEAT ,it is basically in light of the fact that the regions have been characterized in the past which don’t take into account the requirements of the current situation 2. TLâ €™s center is around significant towns and keeping in mind that going from one major town to other the littler towns get ignored which influences the deals. 3. As significant vendors are in large towns with higher market potential, cost cutting while at the same time selling tires is finished. Subsequently the worker cost/deals is high. In correlation MRF is now the market head. MRF sets drifts in the tire business and representatives might want to work for MRF only for the brand name that the organization has produced throughout the years in the Tire business. Henceforth the pay rates at MRF are similarly low. Thus the representative cost/deals is low. The selling costs per unit deals for Ceat are around 0. 085 which is fundamentally higher than MRF. Indeed, even as for advertise spend per unit of deals, Ceat spends more than MRF. 1 This shows MRF has a superior brand pull than Ceat. Lower brand pull of Ceat brings about the accompanying: Ceat needs to give higher edges to its vendors. Ordinarily MRF gives 1% Turnover markdown to the sellers while Ceat gives 2. 5% or more. Lower brand pull likewise converts into higher selling costs for Ceat. The measure of BTL publicizing required for Ceat is essentially higher. Additionally the quantity of advancements, exhibitions and administration camps that Ceat needs to direct is fundamentally higher. MRF being a set up brand has created amazing relations with its sellers and clients throughout the years and thus doesn't require spending a similar sum as Ceat.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

buy custom United States American History essay

purchase exceptionally United States American History exposition The development of numerous production lines and plants began in the mid 1800s (Saddleback, 2008). During this timeframe, most work environments in the industrial facilities required neither uncommon abilities nor outstanding quality, which urged production line proprietors to utilize the two ladies and men. Processing plant proprietors enjoyed female laborers since they were by all accounts more dutiful and better than their male partners were (Saddleback, 2008). In any case, monetary laws constrained the female specialists to work more diligently paying little mind to a steady compensation. The difficult work constrained youngsters to help their moms in the production lines (Saddleback, 2008). This conversation will consider the significant hardships assembly line laborers experienced during the 1800s and one exertion that laborers made for improved working lives. In the late 1800s, laborers encountered various issues, to be specific hard physical work, low compensation, long working-day, and risky and unhealthful working conditions (Saddleback, 2008). Production lines experienced hardened rivalry in light of the augmentation in the number processing plants and firms. This constrained the manufacturing plant proprietors to diminish compensation with a point of limiting the expense of creation and the cost of completed items (Saddleback, 2008). The manufacturing plant proprietors expanded the quantity of machines for the ladies laborers. Most specialists, particularly kids and ladies, got no remuneration for injury or ailment, and dreaded losing their positions on the off chance that they joined associations or griped (Saddleback, 2008). In any case, numerous specialists began to shape worker's guilds so as to secure their privileges and interests. The worker's organization individuals would concur on the compensations they thought were relative to the part of work (Saddleback, 2008). Later on, the patrons crusaded against youngster work and for ten hours working-day. In the end, the assembly line laborers framed national associations in anticipation of improving working conditions and expanding compensation (Saddleback, 2008). The associations endeavors brought about numerous fights and strikes. As a rule, fights and associations end up being compelling. Purchase exceptionally United States American History article

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

How to Save Money as a Broke College Student

How to Save Money as a Broke College Student How to Save Money as a Broke College Student How to Save Money as a Broke College StudentYou can only eat so much instant ramen before you turn a blob of salt. Here are some ways that college students can stretch their budgets even further!Back to school time means a whole new class of freshman starting college for the first time. And while that’s an exciting time in anyone’s life, it can also be one of the most expensive times in your life. Not only do  college costs continue to rise, and many students have never had to handle their own budget before. So even when college students  think  theyre spending wisely, their parents might beg to differ.Its all too easy for budgeting newbies like college students to spend way beyond their means, which could end up hurting their credit scores for years to come. These students could even end up needing to take out a payday loan or a cash advance because theyve blown through all their money!If only there was a blog post that could help college students save money. Well good news, the re is! And it’s this one. This is your assigned reading material for Student Savings 101! Rent out your textbooks.College textbooks prove that knowledge is one of the most valuable commodities in the world. Or at least it better be, considering how much your school is charging for them.The only reason a pound of college books isn’t worth more than a pound of gold is that the smallest college book is ten pounds, minimum. And they make you buy a new one each year, even if the updated edition barely changed anything. There has to be a better way!“Rent your books,” advised Chris Tuck, a financial planner with SJK Wealth Management (@SJKWealthManage). “This was not an option years ago and the game was to sell your books back to the library for pennies. Now companies like Amazon and Barnes and Noble let you rent a textbook for the semester. It may save you hundreds, and I promise you will not be opening your Calculus II book ever again, no need to purchase it for life.”Certifi ed financial planner Luis F. Rosa (@luis_f_rosa) echoed that tip: “One way for a broke college student to save money is to rent their textbooks instead of buying them. Both Amazon and Barnes and Noble offer this option, so you can get access to your textbooks at a fraction of what it would cost to purchase them.”But you need more than just books at college. Unless you plan to eat your books, which would not be cost effective.Cut down on takeout and fancy beer.Let’s be realistic: even if your school has a cafeteria, you’re probably going to get bored of the options they offer within a few weeks and start looking for other food sources. And things can get expensive if you aren’t careful about what those other food sources are.“Purchase food from your local grocery store instead of ordering takeout,” suggested digital brand strategist Shadé Y. Adu (@futuredrshade). “The cost of ordering pizza and snacks adds up quickly. Find a local grocery store that delivers and cook . Have a potluck and enjoy food with your peers together.”But it’s not just what you eat. You have to be careful how many dollars you’re drinking.“Kick the expensive coffee habit,” recommended Tuck. “College students drink a lot of coffee and those expensive lattes add up quickly. An easy way to save is to have a coffee maker in your dorm room.Save even more by finding a deal online for a free coffee maker with the purchase of a couple bags of coffee beans. They may even throw in a free mug. I still have my free blue Gevalia mug from Freshman year.You might have to learn how to run an old-school coffee pot with a filterâ€"not as easy as a single cup podâ€"but a lot cheaper and your friends will think ‘you’re so retro.’”And if you’re of age, Tuck also suggests: “Cheap Beer. It’s an acquired taste, but acquiring it is so much fun. I went to school in New York where a cocktail can run you over $10. You have the rest of your life to enjoy nice wine and scotch. Take these four years (five if this is your favorite tip) to enjoy the cheap stuff.”Use student discounts and card rewards.  Can you major in savings? Well, it wouldn’t hurt to pick up some knowledge in that area, regardless. Thankfully, you may already have a card in your pocket that will save you money.“Search for student discounts,” Tuck told us. “Whether online shopping or around campus, there are plenty of retailers offering a discount with your student ID. I used this personally until about 27 years old when the local movie theater realized I was going on a decade as a student.You can get discounts at Apple, your Amazon Prime subscription, sites like UNiDAYS and pretty much everywhere else. You won’t get these deals again until 50 and you get an AARP card, so take advantage.”But that isn’t the only card that can lead to potential savings.“Look for cash back debit cards for regular purchases,” suggested Adu. “Make your money work for you. If you have to pa y for food or toiletries, use a debit card that provides you with opportunities to make some of your money back. Transfer your cash back into a savings account.”And then there’s the most effective saving method of all …Earn extra money.What if instead of just saving money, you made money? That’s like double the savings! College jobs have been around for a long time, but now you can use technology to better work around your classes.For example, here’s what Business Marketing major Miranda Warner told us:“When I am home in Seattle, especially during long breaks such as summer and winter break, I always try to take in the most dogs that I can through Rover.com (@RoverDotCom).“As a college student, I am constantly in need of money. Whether it is for food, books, or apparel for different sorority eventsâ€"it seems that money is always a struggle. Yet with my earnings from Rover, I have had the ability to secure myself and save up my money, so that during the year finances a re not much of an issue.“During the summer I also take online classes to get ahead in my Business Marketing major, which makes being a Rover Dog Sitter the perfect job for me. Dogs are my absolute passion, and I love everything about them.Working with Rover provides the opportunity to make money, all while being able to work on my education at the same time. For a dog-obsessed college student, this is absolute heaven for me to be able to do this job!”Not into dogs? Just search online about what you do like (or could at least tolerate) and there are probably options for you!College can be fun and expensive. Just make sure you dont end up with no money in savings, relying on no credit check loans like payday or title loans just to make ends meet. (Any bad credit loan, even a relatively affordable installment loan, probably isnt a great idea if youre a full-time student.) Use these tips and hopefully you can raise your ratio of the former to the latter.To learn more about saving mo ney (or earning a little extra) check out these related posts and articles from OppLoans:8 Ways To Save Money Today, Tomorrow and Every Day AfterNeed Cash Fast? Try These 10 Great Side Hustles4 Simple Ways to Save Money on Your Grocery Billâ€"While Still Eating Healthy!How do you  save money as a broke college student? We want to hear from you! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.ContributorsShadé Y. Adu  (@futuredrshade)  is  a digital brand strategist. Shadé helps women entrepreneurs use the power of social media and live streaming to brand, build, and monetize digital programs, products, and services. Shadé has been featured in Hello Beautiful, Black Enterprise, The Network Journal, and the Rachel Ray Show. Shadé has spoken at and facilitated numerous workshops in Kazakhstan, Ghana, and universities, high schools, and institutions throughout the United States.Luis F. Rosa (@luis_f_rosa) focuses on working with young up and coming professionals who are looking to bette r position themselves for a successful financial future. Luis is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and is enrolled to practice before the IRS. This diverse industry knowledge allows him to best serve his clients by understanding how one financial decision affects the other, allowing him to better guide them toward achieving their goals.Chris Tuck  is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Professional. He has a passion for creative problem-solving and works with a wide breadth of clients, specializing in designing custom financial plans to help clients work towards their goals. Chris received his Bachelor of Engineering from Hofstra University and was previously a Civil Engineer for Lockwood, Kessler Bartlett Inc. in New York. He now designs the roads and bridges to his client’s financial futures. Chris is also an active member of the portfolio management team at SJK Wealth Management (@SJKWealthManage).Miranda Warner is currently a 21-year-old Junior at Washington State University, pursuing a degree in Business Marketing. She has always had a love and passion for dogs and has made efforts to help dogs all over the world. Her dad’s occupation resulted in moving around all over the United States, as well as 3 overseas countries. By the age of 18, she had moved nine times and lived in Thailand, South Korea, and Romania. Romania and Thailand, unfortunately, have a big problem with homeless dogs roaming the streets. It broke her heart seeing so many hungry and sick dogs living in unhealthy conditions. So to help, she volunteers with different charities and even fostered different litters of puppies in her home.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

The Social Impact Of Voluntary Abstention From Social...

There is a plethora of academic research on the social impacts of widespread use of social networking sites. Questions that have often been raised include: do social networking sites isolate people and hinder their relationships? Or, are there any potential benefits associated with being connected to others in this way? Voluntary non-use – that is, a conscious and active rejection of social networking sites – is an equally informative line of inquiry. This paper will seek to explore the social impacts of voluntary abstention from social networking site Facebook – with specific emphasis on interpersonal relationships and employment. Comparing and contrasting the social impacts of voluntary abstention and indulgence between users and†¦show more content†¦Here, I want to explore why. A major theory in the economics of communication technology is the network effect. Simply put, â€Å"for some kinds of decisions, you incur an explicit benefit when you align your behaviour with the behaviour of others† (Easley Kleinberg, 2010). The value of Facebook exhibits the same property: â€Å"it is valuable to the extent that others are using it as well† (Easley Kleinberg, 2010). As more people join a network, in this case Facebook, more pressure builds on non-users to conform. As a social community, voluntary exclusion from Facebook means that you are dis-integrating yourself from the social collective (i.e., friendship, dating, employment) (Davis, 2012). In other words, if you cannot be found on Facebook, you do not exist. The aforementioned explanation entails that voluntary abstention from Facebook has a social cost apart from the social perceptions of abnormality. According to Microsoft researcher Alice Marwick, â€Å"In many communities, particularly wi th people under 25, Facebook is a crucial part of social life†¦if you’re not participating in the social network, you’re really not participating in the collective life of the group that you’re associated with† (CBC, 2011). This can result in social isolation (CBC, 2011). To further bolster this notion, a study on adults voluntarily abstaining from social networking sites (SNS) found that, â€Å"social media

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Thinking Is A Way That People Make Decisions - 1527 Words

Thinking Thinking is a way that people make decisions. They think in black and white and don’t like the gray areas. Thinkers tend to be task-oriented, brief, and businesslike (Thinking vs. feeling, n.d.). People who prefer thinking over feeling prefer to form their opinions after thoroughly analyzing problems. They try to understand assumptions and figure out what could be the consequences of actions before they get to them. Their main concern is how decisions will affect the bottom line. Thinkers like debates because they believe it brings issues to the table and the group can talk them out and come to conclusions. They expect other people’s arguments to build to a conclusion and not just be a ramble. They try to treat everybody equally, but also use their authority when determining how new things will be implemented (Hammer, 2015). They can come off as cold because they don’t consider other people’s emotions when making decisions (Collins, n.d.). By having this kind of outlook, it can cause many problems. Sometimes thinkers are too focused on supporting their own position and don’t listen to their colleagues. Thinkers can sometimes are too aggressive in stating their opinions or asking questions that come off as attacking others. They can also be thought of as failing to appreciate the hard work and effort that other people have put into projects. To help thinkers get along and be productive in the workplace, thinkers can look for a common ground so that both sides ofShow MoreRelatedEssay on Improving Our Ability to Make Decisions1716 Words   |  7 PagesDecision-Making Process: Improving Our Ability to Make Decision Facing a situation, you have to decide. For example, the fire surrounds you: What do you do? Jump through the windows and risk to kill yourself or to wait the firemen and risk to be burned to death if they come to late? Every decision that we make or don’t make shapes our future. Everyone tries to make good decisions. However, it is easy to overlook an important factor, miss a desirable option, or base the decision on unreliableRead MoreThe Importance Of Critical Thinking728 Words   |  3 PagesHaving important decisions in life can be very stressful and sometimes you have to evaluate all possible outcomes. The process of analyzing all outcomes of a problem is considered critical thinking. â€Å"Critical thinking is that mode of thinking — about any subject, content, or problem — in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing it.† (TCTC.) A person also creates their own kind of thin king through cognitive bias. It refersRead MoreEssay Creative Thinking, Logical Thinking, and Persuasive Thinking1275 Words   |  6 PagesIn thinking and decision making, it will be analyzed on three different types of thinking styles. The three thinking styles analyzed are Creative thinking, Logical thinking, and Persuasive thinking. These three thinking styles are some of the many important styles used in a workplace. Creative, logical, and persuasive is a great mix of thinking styles that helps a company becomes very successful in completing a job task. The three different types of thinking will be spoken of on how they each affectRead MoreCritical and Creative Thinking Essay676 Words   |  3 Pagescreative thinking are fundamental to human intellectual progress and artifacts thereof (Dewey, Elder, Csikszentmihalyi, Rosenman, Gero, 2012). Critical and creative thinking are considered higher levels of thought because while it is believed that critical thinker primarily uses t he left-brain and a creative thinker primarily uses the right-brain, both types of thinkers tend to think outside the box, but in different ways. There is no direct link between critical and creative thinking, but theyRead MoreCritical Thinking Decision-Making and Logic: The Backbone of Intelligence1230 Words   |  5 PagesCritical thinking, decision-making, and logic form the backbone of intelligence. Regardless of what career path I may take, and where that path leads, I will continually rely on the skill set and mental habits that comprise critical thinking and logic. My decisions, I hope, are always informed by reason as well as finely honed intuition. Balance, integrity, and common sense will also be my companions. There are some core reasons why critical thinking, decision-making, and logic are critical to myRead More Thinking and Decision Making Essay1480 Words   |  6 PagesThinking and Decision Making When it comes to the reasoning and problem solving of any issue there are various ways to come to a decision; thinking is the mental process that allows the people in the world to deal with it effectively, according to set goals, plans, ideas, and desires. Thinking involves the gathering of information that forms concepts and engages in problem solving, reasoning, and making precise decisions for the benefit of whom is concerned. Thinking according to Kirby andRead MoreCritical Thinking Application Paper985 Words   |  4 PagesCritical Thinking Application Paper According to Foundation for Critical Thinking (2009), â€Å"Critical thinking is that mode of thinking—about any subject, content, or problem—in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and imposing intellectual standards upon them† (Defining Critical Thinking, para. 9). Thinking is part of everyone’s human nature. People who can separate their thoughts, analyze them, and changeRead MoreThe Psychometric Indicators of Briggs and Myers1489 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Katharine cook Briggs and his daughter Isabel Brigg Myers are two of the most well known developers of testing and psychological indicators that are made to analyze the level of perception of an individual and how the individual makes decisions. These are the indications that were used by psychologists for the development of psychometric theories. In this paper, in accordance with the psychometric indicators of Briggs and Myers, some of the main personality traits indicated by the surveyRead More Nature of Logic and Perception Essays1127 Words   |  5 Pages Definition of logic and its connection with critical thinking. 2. An everyday example is given when use of logic and critical thinking takes place. 3. Nature of logic defined. 4. Perceptual shortcuts and factors influencing it. 5. How these shortcuts affect our decisions. 6. My personal experience of perceptual shortcut. 7. What I learned from this experience. 8. Importance of logic and critical thinking. 9. Resources This paper is aimed at the relationRead MoreMy Opinion On Critical Thinking942 Words   |  4 PagesCritical thinking is something that we use in our everyday life, although most of us may not realize that we are even doing it. The definition for critical thinking is the â€Å"intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action† (Defining). In other words, it is when you take all the

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Nike and “King Consumer” Free Essays

Popular culture, indeed, has always held athletes in high esteem, dating back to the days of the ancient Greeks and the first Olympiad events, thousands of years ago.   However, in recent decades, talented athletes in sports which had in the past been relegated to the upper class, such as tennis, are now embraced by the masses of all socioeconomic levels.   A case in point is the Russian tennis phenomenon Maria Sharapova. We will write a custom essay sample on Nike and â€Å"King Consumer† or any similar topic only for you Order Now    Admittedly, she is an excellent tennis player, but there are countless other talented tennis players who have not gotten even a fraction of the media attention as has Sharapova. Taking a closer look at this pop culture frenzy, the adoration that has been showered upon Sharapova and many other athletes comes down to how our culture has influenced advertising (USA Today); more specifically, one can clearly argue that Sharapova and others grabbed their biggest share of fame once they began to commercially promote products such as Nike brand clothing and shoes, showing the power of advertising to focus the love of the masses on someone based on an image seen in commercials, as well as the ways that culture has influenced product brands. The Rise of Consumerism As was alluded to in the introduction of this paper, the common denominator in the rise of athletes to god-like status in society, and the growth of companies like Nike into multi billion dollar marketing machines, can all be attributed to the masses, leading to academic studies of consumers in such frequency that terms like consumerism have been coined to identify the analysis of the behavior and power of the consumer to dictate how the business world ultimately operates, what it offers to the public, and how the future of consumer goods will unfold. Experts in the study of consumerism have attributed the rise of consumerism itself to the global spread of what can best be described as material desire; in other words, the economic freedom that many parts of the world have been exposed to for the first time over the last quarter century or so has bred a new generation of consumers, who have the desire to possess consumer goods and finally have the financial means to buy them (Sussman).   Especially desirable are the â€Å"brand name† goods which consumers view as a symbol of affluence; the Nike â€Å"swoosh† symbol, for instance, is something that people consider a sign of success when it appears on their shoes or clothing. This, in itself, speaks volumes about the extent of consumerism with the use of a simple, yet telling example.   Because of the availability of foreign made, inexpensive clothing and shoes, it would make sense that if one merely wanted to keep warm or protect their feet, they would buy the least expensive, yet functional merchandise they could obtain; however, more often than not, consumers will pay much more than they have to for clothing items because of the presence of a Nike symbol or any of a score of others which have universal appeal.   In fairness to Nike and others, they do make products of sufficient quality and functionality, but also in fairness, one can find goods of similar, or even superior quality at lower prices, â€Å"sans swoosh† if you will.   The difference, once again, is the power of consumerism to dictate what one should wear on their bodies to be considered worthy in society. Catering to King Consumer When looking at the role of the consumer, it can fairly be said that we are really looking at â€Å"king† or â€Å"queen†, as marketing efforts target, and effectively reach, both genders.   In the case of Nike, the understated in fact speaks volumes; for example, the previously mentioned Maria Sharapova is presented by Nike as â€Å"just a tennis player† (Nike-United States).   In this case, what is not said actually screams out to the consumer.   The implication on the part of Nike is clear- their products hold the potential to bring out greatness, or to satisfy the highest needs of the most talented athletes like Sharapova.   This speaks volumes not only about the power of advertising, but also a bit about our culture. Culture’s Influence on Advertising The all-powerful consumer also wields a great deal of influence in terms of how companies like Nike advertise their products.   Going back to an example similar to the one in the previous section, Nike, in investing multiple millions of dollars in advertising, could purchase quite literally a ton of advertising year-round, but will spend the same amount for one quick television advertisement during the Super Bowl. The reason why is that the consumer dictates that for Nike and others, Super Bowl advertising is a command performance, much like attendance at a family dinner party to maintain harmony with one’s siblings.   This is indicative of both the power of the consumer to direct marketing strategy, and the power of the media to create powerful companies quite literally overnight in some cases (Kellner).   In the words of our old friends at Nike, consumerism and culture are tied together as such: â€Å"In a commercial culture that blends celebrity, product, and image, it is only natural that the sports shoe transnational Nike – as well as many other corporations – would purchase   star power to promote its products. Accordingly, I argue that the Nike connection calls attention to the extent to which media culture is transforming sports into a spectacle that sells the values, products, celebrities, and institutions of the media and consumer society† (Kellner, p. 64) . Culture is also a powerful ingredient in the consumerism mix; when one takes a look at the styles of clothing and shoes that Nike offers, as well as their advertising, it is clear that urban culture is a strong influence, leading to farm kids in Iowa, for example, wearing Nike gear, even though the closest they may have ever come to city life is seeing graffiti on a tractor trailer rolling through their town, on the way to somewhere else.   The point to be made is that popular culture is a driving force in marketing today. Conclusion In an image-obsessed society such as ours, material goods can, and do, create legendary, larger than life individuals, who in turn sell billions of dollars in products, and the cycle continues.   As a conclusion, perhaps the old saying is the best: â€Å"consumer is king†! Works Cited Kellner, Douglas. Media Spectacle. New York: Routledge, 2003. (Nike-United States  Ã‚   2007)Nike-United States. 2007. Nike, Inc.. 5 Mar. 2007 http://www.nike.com. Sussman, Charlotte. â€Å"Consumerism in World History: The Global Transformation of Desire.† The Historian 66.1 (2004): 211+. â€Å"Tennis Royalty Crowned by Prince.† USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education) Nov. 2005: 78+.    How to cite Nike and â€Å"King Consumer†, Essay examples

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Accounting Information for Business Long Range Planning

Question: Describe about the Accounting Information for Business: Long Range Planning? Answer: Introduction Kaplan and Norton (1996) introduced Balance Score Card as a performance measurement tool by the Managers (Kaplan and Norton, 2001). The strategy of every organization is to improve its performance in order to fulfill its objectives. The benefit of balance score card in New croft hospital trust has been studied (Kaplan and Norton, 2001). New croft hospital trust is a public sector hospital in North East England. It is run by Government fund by the Department of Health. The mission of the hospital is to improve the quality of care provided to the patients to promote the well being of the patients. This will ensure value for money for the patients as well as the tax payers who are regularly engaged in funding activity in the hospital. In order to improve the quality of service to the patients it is important to analyze the present performance of the organization and its employees (Kaplan, 2001). This can be achieved by using the balance score card approach. The benefit of this approach for New croft hospital has been discussed. Concept of Balance score card Balance score card can be defined strategic planning and management system applied in the business industry (Kaplan and Norton, 2006). It helps to align the business activities with the strategy and vision of the organization (Ahn, 2001). The Balance score card approach helps to improve the internal and external communication within the organization. It is used as a tool to monitor the performance of the organization against the strategic goals. The Balance score card approach was introduced by Robert Kaplan and David Norton (Niven, 2002). It is a performance measurement framework that adds non financial performance measures to the traditional financial metrics. It provides the manager a balanced view of the performance of the organization (Bhagwat and Sharma, 2007). The traditional financial measure is retained by the balanced score card approach. The financial measures are inadequate for evaluating the journey of the companies in the information age. The companies bear the responsi bility to create the future values via making investment decisions in the customers, suppliers, technology, process and innovation (Figge et al., 2002). The balance score card approach is used by the companies to clarify and update the strategy. The approach is used to communicate the strategy throughout the company. The individual goal of each unit of the organization is aligned with the strategy. The long term targets of the organization are linked with the annual budgets. The Balance score card approach is used as a tool to measure the periodic performance of the organization in order to improve the strategy. Benefits for Balance score card in New croft Hospital Trust Healthcare delivery and the Balance Scorecard New croft hospital recognized that the effective health care delivery involves patient-centred care of high quality which will be safe and based in evidence. There are unique challenges faced by the health care sector as it is considered as a complex industry (Stewart and Bestor, 2000). The challenges faced by the health care sector include extremely diverse range of stakeholders which includes the patient, their families, staff and range of other government departments. The resource available in the environment is finite with the rapidly rising costs. This has resulted in the increase in the cost of the medical technologies (Voelker, Rakich and French, 2001). There has been rapid growth in the health costs. It is important for the organization to implement Balance Score card approach to address the growing concerns in health care sector. The hospital is under the hands of innovative and skilled management team who can use the balanced score card approach as one of the key management strategies. It will help to address these major challenges (Protti, 2002). The outcome of the Balance Score card approach will be provision of patient care of high quality along with the improvement in the health of the community and its well being (Niven, 2008). The Balance Score card approach can be used for the purpose of strategic management at the level of the organization. It can also be used for the purpose of evaluation of various health care programs and projects that will improve the quality of care. Reasons for introduction of Balance Score card Both the developed and the developing countries have been using the Balance Score card approach to improve the performance of the health care sector. The excellent past performance provides no guarantee of the past performance of the health care organization. The health care sector can bring major structural changes in the independent operating units in order to integrate the health care system (Radnor and Lovell, 2003). The Balance Score card approach assists to build a unified system which is one of keys for the success of the organization. The best practices in the health care system has been identified which help to differentiate their services which help to attract more business (Marr and Adams, 2004). There has been considerable improvement in the collaboration and communication between all levels of the staff and the stakeholders. The Balance Score card approach provides a comprehensive view of the performance of the organization in order to fulfill its mission. New croft hosp ital will implement the Balanced Score card approach as a response to the external forces which includes the increasing financial pressure (Niven, 2002). This will motivate the management to search for relevant and effective tools of strategic management (Strategic control: meshing critical success factors with the balanced scorecard, 2002). But it was stated by Kollberg and Elg (2010), that the Balance Score card approach can be implemented by New croft hospital in order to improve the quality of health care in the organization(Nrreklit, 2003). The uncertainty towards reaching the goal will be reduced and enhance the focus on the consumers. This approach can be applied to monitor the outcomes and thereby improve the performance in order to ensure that the strategies and goals are achieved. Balance Score Card as non financial performance indicator The Balanced Score card approach can be applied by New croft hospital to measure the non financial performance of the organization (Banker, Potter and Srinivasan, 2000). Unlike the non health care sectors, the health care sector is a customer and people centric sector. People In the health care sector, all the efforts to achieve the balanced accountability for quality, cost and care depend on the attitude of the physician, behavior and belief. The attitudes of the nurses and other professionals are also accountable (Lipe and Salterio, 2000). There is huge difference of the health care sector from the other sectors which is visible in the autonomous culture of the physicians and the importance of the outcomes on a long term basis. Thus it is important for the health care sector to implement Balance Score card approach to analyze the attitude of the health care practitioners towards the patients. Thus human resources are critical for the implementation of the strategy (Norreklit, 2000). Customer In the health care sector, the focus is on the patient as the customer and their needs are served in order to achieve the mission. In this sector it is important to maintain a balance between the community and the patient. In health care sector it is not possible to segregate clients in the community and the service is targeted towards the entire community. The Balance Score card approach will help to identify the needs of the patients. It is difficult to balance life and most countries are struggling to reduce the health costs. The Balance Score card approach will make the customers i.e. the patients as the central aspect of the organizational strategy. There are certain indicator that is critical to measure the performance of the organization. The review data of the organization can be collected using this approach to identify the linkages between the indicators (Ittner, Larcker and Meyer, n.d.). Conclusion Thus it can be said that Balance Score card will bring positive growth in New core hospital. It will be a viable option for generating the business value. Many organizations face difficulty in implementing the Balance Score card approach. But New core hospital has to select the protocols on the basis of which the non financial performance of the company can be measured. It will improve the service of the organization towards the customers and add value to the organization. Critical Review of Balance Score card Article 1 Kaplan, R. and Norton, D. (1993).Putting the Balanced Scorecard to Work. [online] Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/1993/09/putting-the-balanced-scorecard-to-work [Accessed 9 Mar. 2015]. The article reviews the impact of Balance Score card as a performance management tool on the organization. It is considered as an innovative strategy to measure the non financial performance of the organization. It helps to introduce breakthrough performances in the organization. The firms has been using short term financial indicators like the growth of sales, return on investment and operating income in order to evaluate the performance of the organization. These tools have been used for decades to review the financial performance of the company. The managers have failed to monitor and measure the new goals and incapable of undertaking new initiatives for the organization. But with the introduction of the Balance Score card approach, a comprehensive framework was introduced by organization which translated the strategic objectives of the company into coherent set of performance measures. It has helped to achieve the break through improvement in the organization in cases like develo pment of the market, customer relations and process development. The Balance Core card approach is based on four different perspectives. The traditional financial indicators are complemented by the four financial indicators. They are measurement of customers performance, internal process improvement, innovation and improvement of activities. The Balance Score card approach is keeps a balance between the external measures like the financial indicators and the internal measures which includes the product development. It serves as the focal point for the efforts of the organization, defining and prioritizing the main objectives to the managers. The Balance Score card approach is used as a focal point by the organization to measure its efforts. It is an important tool for evaluating the new projects. Article 2 Salem, M., Hasnan, D. and Osman, D. (2012). BALANCED SCORECARD: WEAKNESSES, STRENGTHS, and ITS ABILITY as PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM VERSUS OTHER PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 9(2), pp.1-8. The article presents an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the Balance Score card method in the organization. The performance measurement tool has become imperative for the private and public sectors. It is imperative for the organizations to implement the Balance Score card method to measure the non financial performance of the organization. The article has tried to identify the pros and cons of Balance Score card method. The effectiveness of the Balance Score card method cannot be ignored. It aims at improving the performance of the organization. It is not possible for the organization to manage what it cannot measure. Lack of predictability has reduced the ability of the organization to measure future performance of the organization. In this respect the Balance Score card approach is beneficial for the growth of the organization. The Balance Score card approach is considered as a new and innovative approach in comparison to TQM, performance pyramid, MBO and BOS. But there are certain limitations to the Balance Score card approach. The relationship between the various areas of measurement is considered to be unidirectional and simple in nature. Lack of cause and effect relationship has resulted in assumptions that are invalid. The role of time has not been mentioned in this approach. The validity of BSC is based on few measures. If the measures are not suitable then it will create a disadvantageous situation and the right number of indicators might not be selected. This leads to inappropriate measurement of performance. The BSC is incapable to review the performance of the competitors which is essential to measure the performance of the organization. This is an ineffective approach to corporate sustainability. The sustainability issues are crucial for the success of the performance of the organization. However several management organization has felt the shortcoming of the various measures of BSC as it has been ineffective in improving the pe rformance of the organization. But in order to incorporate an innovative environment within the organization , it is important to incorporate the BSC as a non financial performance measurement tool for the growth of the organization as the improvement of the intangible assets acts as a cutting edge for the organization. References: Ahn, H. (2001). Applying the Balanced Scorecard Concept: An Experience Report. Long Range Planning, 34(4), pp.441-461. Banker, R., Potter, G. and Srinivasan, D. (2000). An Empirical Investigation of an Incentive Plan that Includes Nonfinancial Performance Measures. The Accounting Review, 75(1), pp.65-92. Bhagwat, R. and Sharma, M. (2007). Performance measurement of supply chain management: A balanced scorecard approach. Computers Industrial Engineering, 53(1), pp.43-62. Figge, F., Hahn, T., Schaltegger, S. and Wagner, M. (2002). The Sustainability Balanced Scorecard - linking sustainability management to business strategy. Bus. Strat. Env., 11(5), pp.269-284. Ittner, C., Larcker, D. and Meyer, M. (n.d.). Subjectivity and the Weighting of Performance Measures: Evidence from a Balanced Scorecard. SSRN Journal. Kaplan, R. (2001). The strategy-focused organization. [Concordville, Pa.]: Soundview Executive Book Summaries. Kaplan, R. and Norton, D. (1993). Putting the Balanced Scorecard to Work. [online] Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/1993/09/putting-the-balanced-scorecard-to-work [Accessed 9 Mar. 2015]. Kaplan, R. and Norton, D. (2001). Transforming the Balanced Scorecard from Performance Measurement to Strategic Management: Part I. Accounting Horizons, 15(1), pp.87-104. Kaplan, R. and Norton, D. (2001). Transforming the Balanced Scorecard from Performance Measurement to Strategic Management: Part I. Accounting Horizons, 15(1), pp.87-104. Kaplan, R. and Norton, D. (2001). Transforming the Balanced Scorecard from Performance Measurement to Strategic Management: Part II. Accounting Horizons, 15(2), pp.147-160. Kaplan, R. and Norton, D. (2006). Alignment. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press. Lipe, M. and Salterio, S. (2000). The Balanced Scorecard: Judgmental Effects of Common and Unique Performance Measures. The Accounting Review, 75(3), pp.283-298. Marr, B. and Adams, C. (2004). The balanced scorecard and intangible assets: similar ideas, unaligned concepts. Measuring Business Excellence, 8(3), pp.18-27. Niven, P. (2002). Balanced scorecard step by step. New York: Wiley. Niven, P. (2002). Balanced scorecard step by step. New York: Wiley. Niven, P. (2008). Balanced scorecard step-by-step for government and nonprofit agencies. Hoboken, N.J.: J. Wiley Sons. Norreklit, H. (2000). The balance on the balanced scorecard a critical analysis of some of its assumptions. Management Accounting Research, 11(1), pp.65-88. Nrreklit, H. (2003). The Balanced Scorecard: what is the score? A rhetorical analysis of the Balanced Scorecard. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 28(6), pp.591-619. Protti, D. (2002). A proposal to use a balanced scorecard to evaluate Information for Health: an information strategy for the modern NHS (19982005). Computers in Biology and Medicine, 32(3), pp.221-236. Radnor, Z. and Lovell, B. (2003). Success factors for implementation of the balanced scorecard in a NHS multi agency setting. International J Health Care QA, 16(2), pp.99-108. Salem, M., Hasnan, D. and Osman, D. (2012). BALANCED SCORECARD: WEAKNESSES, STRENGTHS, and ITS ABILITY as PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM VERSUS OTHER PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 9(2), pp.1-8. Stewart, L. and Bestor, W. (2000). Applying a Balanced Scorecard to Health Care Organizations. J. Corp. Acct. Fin., 11(3), pp.75-82. Strategic control: meshing critical success factors with the balanced scorecard. (2002). Long Range Planning, 35(4), p.347. Voelker, K., Rakich, J. and French, G. (2001). The Balanced Scorecard in Healthcare Organizations: A Performance Measurement and Strategic Planning Methodology. Hospital Topics, 79(3), pp.13-24.

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

How has Baz Luhrmann made Romeo and Juliet accessible and interesting for a young contemporary audience Essay Example

How has Baz Luhrmann made Romeo and Juliet accessible and interesting for a young contemporary audience? Essay Romeo and Juliet is a romantic tragedy set in Verona in Elizabethan times. Two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, both noble households, continue their ancient feud, the play starting with a small skirmish in the town centre. However when some young Montagues gatecrash a Capulet party, dishonouring their enemy, Romeo meets Juliet, and the next day they secretly marry. Tybault, Juliets cousin, goes looking for Romeo, seeking revenge for the damaged pride Old Capulet had suffered, and when Romeo arrives on the scene, Tybault offers a duel to him, which fatefully ends in Mercutio, Romeos best friends, death. Romeo then continues to kill Tybault and is exiled to Mantua. By her fathers will, Juliet is bound to marrying Parris, a noble friend of the family. A plot is hatched to fake Juliets death and Romeo should carry her away to Mantua. However a mix up leaves Romeo in the dark, and as he arrives on the scene to find Juliet apparently dead, he poisons himself. In his dieing moment s, Juliet awakens, and she too commits suicide. In this story, fate and destiny play large parts, ending in an agreement between the two households to end their feud. In the script there is quite a lot of wordplay between the characters, for instance the first scene dialog about coals. Shakespeare also mixes use of prose, rhyme and iambic pentameter. For example when speaking about Rosaline, his love, Romeo uses a poetic rhyming verse, whereas in Act one Scene two Shakespeare uses rhyming couplets to show comedy, and also parodies the eloquent ornate prose used by people in the sixteenth century. Shakespeare would entertain his audience using different language and verse to show different moods whether it be comedy, romance or desperation. Baz Luhrmann, then a little known director, has taken this 16th century text and transformed it into a dazzling and accessible film aimed at the young, contemporary audience of today but how has he done this? He has used many different methods to achieve this, the biggest point is that now, Romeo and Juliet, a classic story, is set in contemporary America. Luhrmann has used many technical film methods, types of editing, sound tracks, length and angles of shots, and special effects. But he has also, short of rewriting the script, completely transformed the play, into this dazzling film. He has changed parts of the plot, cut out large portions of text and even swapped members of the households around. But the film is still exactly the same story, told in a different way, without any new dialog or text. He has stretched the limits Shakespeare had when writing the script, and taken them to new heights in creating this amazing film. We will write a custom essay sample on How has Baz Luhrmann made Romeo and Juliet accessible and interesting for a young contemporary audience? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on How has Baz Luhrmann made Romeo and Juliet accessible and interesting for a young contemporary audience? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on How has Baz Luhrmann made Romeo and Juliet accessible and interesting for a young contemporary audience? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer When Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, the theatre he had, was a stage, with smaller balcony above it. Shakespeare had to work around this, and you can see particularly in Act three Scene one where Mercutios body would clutter up the relatively small stage; Shakespeare instead kills him off stage, the balcony scene, where Romeo is below the window and balcony where Juliet is, and also in other places. These scenes could have been written differently for a bigger stage, as they were adapted for Baz Luhrmanns film, but that was the theatre Shakespeare had available. Luhrmann had quite a large budget for his film; the 20th Century Fox logos showing high production value. He used both high value studios and filmed out of doors, which is an expensive way of capturing a setting. However to partly balance this, the large cityscapes, gas station and other out door scenes were filmed in South America to push down the production cost. The city used is merely a generic cityscape, denoting the contemporary United States of America not any particular American city. Luhrmann has modernized the setting, but still in keeping with the text. For instance the gas station in the first scene replaces a communal town square. The gas station is a public place like the square and fighting would certainly not be allowed in either of them. Luhrmann has used a variety of different issues, relevant in todays society and intertwined them into the story of Romeo and Juliet, without changing any of the original text. He has mainly done this using visual images and diegetic sounds. For example there is a connection with drug use in Act one Scene one, where Mercutio gives Romeo a small tablet with a heart on. There is no mention of this from Shakespeare; it is merely an invention of Baz Luhrmann. Another example of using contemporary issues is the fact that all of the characters carry around guns. When Shakespeare wrote the play, guns had only just been invented and were unreliable, inaccurate and hard to get hold of, but most people would carry around swords. In Luhrmanns film, it would not of made sense to have such a contemporary scene with people walking around with swords. To get around this each of the guns has a model name, which reflects its mention is the text. For instance Benvolio uses a Sword 9mm Series and Capulet calls for his Long Sword, which is replaced by a large gun named Longsword. As the setting of the film is contemporary America, this issue is well handled, as there is a growing arms problem in America today. The reason Luhrmann has added these issues into the film is because of audience uses and gratifications. For instance, personal identity with the characters as an example Tybault as a rebel or Romeo as a lover, or personal identity with any of the range of issues like drug use, and guns. Another value is gaining an insight into the circumstances of others, or social empathy. If you automatically condemned anyone who used a gun, you may change your view seeing this film because for example, the Montagues use theirs in self-defence, and without their guns would be shot by their enemy. The guns issue is also related to the strong mafia connections in the film. The two families are shown as rival gangs, with both legitimate and illegitimate sides of business. There is a certain hierarchy to the families, for instance Old Capulet at the top with Tybault beneath him and Abra at the bottom. There is a similar hierarchy for the Montagues. The Montagues and Capulets own rival construction firms, and the mafia have always been associated with this, for instance the tale that if you cross the mafia you will find yourself cemented to the underside of a bridge. The two gangs are very different in style. For example in the first scene alone, the Montagues are shown as rowdy punks, unorganised but still deadly because of their unpredictability. The Capulets arrive in a suave navy car, and are dressed more formally. They move differently to the Montagues as well. With planned, stylish moves compared to the Montagues rushed, panicky ones. A good example of this is how the two gangs show their weapons in the first scene. The Montague boys frantically rip their shirts away showing their guns. The Capulets, Abra and Tybault slowly draw back their coats to reveal their weapons. Even the way the Capulets talk is very different to the Montagues. Tybault speaks slowly showing he is not scared and is calm and collected. It would seem the Capulets are more deadly with precision and organization. However, the unpredictability of the Montagues makes them just as dangerous. This juxtaposition is deliberate, because the split in the two families or gangs has to be very obvious to show the feud is serious. Servants are not commonplace in America today, so the servants of the houses are shown as simple gangs members at the bottom of the hierarchy. The nurse is portrayed as a South American woman, likely to have been hired to look after Juliet, as a servant, but the lines where Lady Capulet refers to her in this way, have been cut out. During the prologue mainly, Luhrmann creates a sense of narrative progression from the fast moving montage of images, even though they are not necessarily in chronological order in the script. He does this using editing, changing speeds of edits from one scene to the next, and also anchoring each image to a voice over. Also in the prologue, and throughout the film there is intertextuality. For example I think the still images in the prologue showing the Capulets and the Montagues along with a piece of text introducing them, relates to the television series Dallas. This shows early on, in case you havent already caught on, that the film is very contemporary. One other way of using of intertextuality is the use of different genres in the film. For instance the western genre is used extensively in the first scene. The whistling wind when Tybault speaks and the way his metal-heeled boots clink on the ground, as well as the squeaking petrol station sign, all have strong connotations of the western genre. Another genre used in the first scene is action. Explosions, guns and special effects all show this. There are also comedy aspects throughout the film. The two Montague boys other than Benvolio joke continuously throughout the film, and in the first scene, are almost slapstick in their movements. For instance one of them falls backwards into the car, and the way he handles the lady hitting him over the head with a handbag. There are several ways in which the director has added realism. Firstly he uses women actors. In Shakespeares time young boys whose voices had not broken played all women characters. Another way of increasing the realism in the film is the use of sound bridges. These are sounds that bridge two or more shots together. This happens in real life so increases realism. In Shakespeares time you heard what you saw all of the time. Luhrmann had a large enough budget to go on the search for some high value stars to act in his film. Leonardo Di Caprio, one of the top earning American actors, plays the main character. Though Claire Danes was unknown to the film world, this was her first big film, Luhrmann decided she fitted the act well and chose her over bigger stars. Big stars automatically bring audiences and so are an asset to the film, not only because of their greater acting skills, but also because of their previous track record and fans they will bring as audience. A lot of the props were created from scratch with incredible attention to detail. All of the guns are original designs by the props department, each bearing its own name and brand. The precision goes down to each gun even having an identifying serial number. Every single different coin and note in the films world was designed and created even though they were seen only a couple of times. This attention to detail is consistent throughout the film, which gives a good sense of reality. Shakespeare could not show weather on the stage, the theatre was open air and the weather did what it pleased. To get around this, the characters say what the weather is doing. For example Benvolio says in Act three lets retire: the day is hot. The changing weather in the film is a big part of the realism created. For instance the wind and the storm in Act three Scene one. Although the storm adds realism, it also builds with the story, as it gets more intense. Mercutios death brings high winds and the rain begins to fall when Romeo goes after Tybault and the storm reaches its climax, with thunder and lightning when Romeo shoots Tybault. As well as not being able to show weather, Shakespeare had no electricity or source of controllable light. As a result of this, most plays were performed in the daytime when it was light. Luhrmann has used different amounts of light in the film quite a lot. There are a lot of daytime scenes, which although filmed outside would need extra electric lighting as well for the cameras to pick up a good picture. Likewise the church scene in Act five with candles. The candles dont give off enough light for the cameras on their own, so the light was boosted using filler lights. These extra lights allow the director to have dark scenes like the balcony scene at night, without the viewer not being able to see the action. In the first scene of act one the shots start long as the mood is relaxed and fun, but towards the end of the scene as the tension rises to a climax the shots get closer and closer. For instance at the start of the scene there are long shots over the whole gas station for instance where Abra shouts Hubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble. However at the climax of the tension, there are extreme close up shots of Tybault and Benvolios eyes, staring each other down. This is one method Luhrmann has used to create tension. Another way he creates tension is by speeding up the editing. For instance in the prologue, it starts off with a long shot of the television slowly zooming in. By the end of the prologue the images are flashing past your eyes so quickly you barely have a chance to take them in. This is the unique selling point of the film. That there are so many intense images and fast moving scenes; it bombards you with a mass of sound and visual awe. Baz Luhrmann also uses visual imagery to enforce things already in the script, and he cuts out pieces of script to show the meaning visually instead. For instance instead of the joking and punning about the word coals in the very first scene, you have the Montague boys shouting and messing around in their car. This is because of the Elizabethan wordplay, which a contemporary audience would not find particularly funny. Again in the original script, Sampson and Gregory joke about raping the women of their rivals household. However in the film, there is only a short sequence where one of the Montague boys makes a gesture at a group of nuns. One other way Luhrmann uses imagery to enforce the script is where Tybault points his gun at a boy showing that Tybault is a rebel and lawless. This is shown again when he lights his cigar in front of the no smoking signs. This is meaning is connotated by his actions in the play but is not actually in the script. There are lots of other cuts in the script, partly to shorten the running time of the film, and partly because sixteenth century language is not easy to understand at full speed in large blocks. Most of the long speeches have been cut in length; the Queen Mab speech for instance is cut to only ten lines or so, from forty lines in Shakespeares script. In the original text, Romeo goes to the apothecary to buy some poison. Instead of this in the film, Romeo buys the vial of poison from an old man, the pool halls owners house. Romeo would not be able to buy it from an apothecary or chemist because it would be illegal for them to sell him poison. There is also no Friar John in the film. Instead friar Lawrence uses the mail service. This is a simple modernization of the script. Sycamore Grove in the original sixteenth century text was an orchard of sycamore trees. In the film, this grove is transformed into a run down beach funfair, with a derelict stage, a procenium arch, which turns out to be the stage for Mercutios death. Another scenery change is the entire concept of Verona. In the play it is a slightly high-class city in Italy. In the film however, Verona is Verona beach, a run down derelict holiday resort in west coast North America. Another major plot change is that Romeo does not kill Paris in the film. This is to do with making the film public friendly. Romeo is made out in the film to be the good guy, whereas in the script he is more neutral. Having Romeo murder an innocent man is supposed to show desperation. However in todays society, killing a man is a very serious crime and would not make Romeo a popular hero. Instead the director chose to have Romeo take a hostage, showing the same amount of desperation. The only person Romeo is shown to kill in the film is Tybault, who is portrayed as the evil character. Also Romeo killed Tybault in blind rage at Mercutios death, which partly justifies it, especially in the viewers eyes. In the film, Samson and Gregory are the Montague Boys, whereas in the original text, they are servants of the house of Capulet. Likewise Abra, Abraham in the script, and Balthasar, unnamed, are Capulets whereas in the script they are Montagues. This makes no difference to the plot, but the way Luhrmann has arranged it works excellently, without changing the plot at all. Abra is named what he is instead of Abraham in the film, because in America Abraham is recognised as a Jewish name, whereas Abra has the accent, and appearance of a South American man. Baz Luhrmann uses both diegetic and non-diegetic music in the film, to give a sense of the emotion of the scene. For instance the non-diegetic music in act two scene two where Romeo and Juliet are in the pool shows the romance, and the diegetic music in act one scene five from the female singer and piano again shows the romance. Another mood shown by diegetic music is in Act two scene one of the film, where The Montague boys are leaving the party. They are singing with the car stereo We are a pretty piece of flesh. This shows they are in an aggressive, intimidating mood. So these are some of the many ways in which Baz Luhrmann has turned William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet into a contemporary film.

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Overview of the US Civil War Battle of Richmond

Overview of the US Civil War Battle of Richmond In 1862, Confederate Major General Kirby Smith ordered an offensive into Kentucky. The advance team was led by Brigadier General Patrick R. Cleburne who had his cavalry led by Colonel John S. Scott out front. On August 29th, the cavalry began a skirmish with Union troopers on the road to Richmond, Kentucky. By noon, the Union infantry and artillery had joined the fight, causing the Confederates to retreat to Big Hill. Pressing his advantage, Union Brigadier General Mahlon D. Manson sent a brigade to march towards Rogersville and the Confederates. Dates August 29-30, 1862 Location Richmond, Kentucky Key Individuals Involved Union: Major General William NelsonConfederate: Major General E. Kirby Smith Outcome Confederate Victory. 5,650 casualties of which 4,900 were Union soldiers. Overview of the Battle The day ended with a brief skirmish between the Union forces and Cleburne’s men. During the evening both Manson and Cleburne discussed the situation with their superior officers. Union Major General William Nelson ordered another brigade to attack. Confederate Major General Kirby Smith gave Cleburne the order to attack and promised reinforcements. In the early morning hours, Cleburne marched north, won against Union skirmishers, and approached the Union line near Zion Church. Over the course of the day, reinforcements arrived for both sides. After exchanging artillery fire, the troops attacked. The Confederates were able to push through the Union right, causing them to retreat to Rogersville. They tried to make a stand there. At this point, Smith and Nelson had taken command of their own armies. Nelson attempted to rally the troops, but the Union soldiers were routed. Nelson and some of his men were able to escape. However, by the end of the day, 4,000 Union soldiers were captured. More significantly, the way north was open for the Confederates to advance.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Efficient Market Hypothesis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Efficient Market Hypothesis - Assignment Example Among the foremost to apply digital computers to perform empirical research in the field of finance, Fama operationally defined the EMH by pointing structure on several information sets accessible to market players. The efficient-market hypothesis necessitates that the agents should expect rationally that on average the overall population is correct (although if no individual is) and each time new pertinent information comes out, the agents should update their anticipations appropriately. Moreover, agents are not needed to be rational. EMH permits that on facing novel information, some investors may under react while some, on the other hand may over react. But, they are necessitated by EMH to react in a random manner that follows standard normal distribution. So, the overall impact on market prices may not be constantly exploited to attain more than usual profit, particularly, while keeping into consideration the transaction costs (including spreads and commissions). Therefore, any i ndividual may be perceived to be incorrect regarding the market but, market, on the contrary, as a whole is considered to be always correct. Three levels of hypothesis The efficient market hypothesis can be commonly stated in three basic forms. These include weak-form, semi-strong form and strong form efficiency. Each of these provides distinct implications for the way market performs. Weak-Form Efficiency This form of EMH specifies that current prices of assets reflect past volume and price information. The information incorporated in the past series of a security’s prices is completely reflected in its present market price. It is called as weak because the market price is the most accessible information available to individuals and the utilization of technical analysis is forbidden by this form of EMH. Semi-Strong Form Efficiency This form submits that entire available information to the public is incorporated into the prices of asset. Thus the market price of that asset is a complete reflection of all information accessible to the public. This publicly known information includes the past prices as well as the data reported by the company in its financial statements, announcement along with economic and other factors. The Strong-Form Efficiency This form implies that along with the publicly available information, the insider or private information is also reflected in an asset’s market price. Thus, such a market restricts the inside organization members from gaining unusual returns. Thus, all forms of EMH restrict individuals from attaining unusual returns due to unavailability of information and inhibit the possibility of arbitrage or risk free profit (Fama, 1991). Firm’s pricing of debt and equity decisions and EMH The 2007-2012 financial disaster has contributed to renewed criticism and scrutiny of the efficient market hypothesis. It has been even dismissed as being an ineffective way to study the functioning of financial markets in reality by various economists and financial analysts. Critics have proposed that corporations and financial institutions have the

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Summary and Insights on Selected Bible Passages Essay

Summary and Insights on Selected Bible Passages - Essay Example To begin with, the 2nd Book of Samuel is an account of significant events in David’s reign as King. In Chapter 5, he was proclaimed the anointed ruler by God. God hides when he conveys his messages to David. He uses Nathan, a prophet to be his messenger. Nathan relayed to David the messages of God sent in his dreams. One of the most significant events ever recorded in this Book is when God established his covenant with David by detailing His promises as follows:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"†¦I have cut you off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people of Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. The Lord declares to you that the Lord Himself will establish a house for you. When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom† (Holy Bible New International Version, 2 Sam 7: 9-12).   In other words, for winning God’s favor, David, as written in Chapter 7, received great fame, fortune and successes in all the endeavors he took including victories in all the battles he fought. At the onset, it was also disclosed that God requested David through Nathan to build a house of cedar for the Ark of the Covenant which was then housed in a tent.On Chapter 11, the dark side of King David was revealed.  

Monday, January 27, 2020

Different Perspectives for Risk Management

Different Perspectives for Risk Management 1 Purpose Risk this is defined as the combination of the probability of an event and its consequences. In all types of undertaking, there is the potential for events and consequences that constitute opportunities for benefit (upside) or threats to success (downside). Risk Management is increasingly recognised as being concerned with both positive and negative aspects of risk. Therefore this policy considers risk from both perspectives. Risk management is a central part of the B W Plant Hire and Sales Ltd strategic management. It is the process whereby we methodically address the risks attaching to their activities with the goal of achieving sustained benefit within each activity and across the portfolio of all activities. The focus of good risk management is the identification and treatment of these risks. Its objective is to add maximum sustainable value to all the activities of the organisation. It marshals the understanding of the potential upside and downside of all those factors which can affect the organisation. It increases the probability of success, and reduces both the probability of failure and the uncertainty of achieving our overall objectives. 2 Process The risks facing an organisation and its operations can result from factors both external and internal to the organisation. Risk identification is the process whereby B W Plant Hire and Sales Ltd sets out to identify its exposure to uncertainty. Risk identification is approached in a methodical way as part of the annual strategic review process to ensure that all significant activities within the organisation have been identified and all the risks flowing from these activities also defined. All associated volatility related to these activities is identified and categorised. Business activities and decisions are classified as: Strategic These concern the long-term strategic objectives of the organisation. They can be affected by such areas as capital availability, sovereign and political risks, legal and regulatory changes, reputation and changes in the physical environment. Operational These concern the day-today issues that the organisation is confronted with as it strives to deliver its strategic objectives. Financial These concern the effective management and control of the finances of the organisation and the effects of external factors such as availability of credit, foreign exchange rates, interest rate movement and other market exposures. Knowledge Based These concern the effective management and control of the knowledge resources, the production, protection and communication thereof. External factors might include the unauthorised use or abuse of intellectual property, area power failures, and competitive technology. Internal factors might be system malfunction or loss of key staff. Compliance These concern such issues as health safety, environmental, trade descriptions, consumer protection, data protection, employment practices and regulatory issues. As part of the annual strategic review each identified risk is described in a structured format is necessary to ensure a comprehensive risk identification, description and assessment process. Risk estimation is assessed as high, medium or low using the guidelines shown in the tables below. Risk identification Categorisation 1. Name of Risk 2. Impact of Risk Qualitative description of the events, their size, type number and dependencies 3. Quantification of Risk Probability and Significance 4. Potential Action for Improvement Recommendations to reduce risk Risk Consequences Threats and Opportunities High: Financial impact on the organisation is likely to exceed  £250,000 Significant impact on the organisations strategy or operational activities Significant stakeholder concern Medium Financial impact on the organisation likely to be between  £150,000 and  £350,000 Moderate impact on the organisations strategy or operational activities Moderate stakeholder concern Low Financial impact on the organisation likely to be less that  £150,000 Low impact on the organisations strategy or operational activities Low stakeholder concern

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Elevator

Hey Gaby, I just started my class online with the University of Phoenix, let me tell you a little bit about it because I know you were interested in going back to school as well. Online courses are also known as distance learning, which means that you are earning your education via online. Instead of being in a traditional classroom setting and having that face to face contact with your teacher, distance learning is student centered instructional format that allows you to take courses without having to commit to a regular campus attendance. I personally enjoy doing distance learning; so far I have been able to easily concentrate on my work. The reason why I chose to do distance learning is because I really have a hard time attending regular face to face classes due to my work schedule, very much similar to the situation you are in Gaby. Just like your goals I want to continue to pursue my degree further and I didn’t want to stop attending school so I chose this avenue. Distance learning is a field where instructional systems are designed to deliver education to students who are not able to physically be in classroom site. In my opinion I think you would enjoy distance learning and you would be able to focus a lot easier. I really enjoy doing it because I love working with computers, some people say that they do not like it but most people that I have spoken to say that they really enjoy it as well. You should really try it I truly recommend it; I was scared at first because I was concerned about having questions that I would like to ask my teacher in person and via online you do not have that opportunity. The method used to communicate with your professor and or classmates is through forums and thread discussions. In these forums and threads you post your questions and responses to other posts as well, somewhat like a live chat room. This is referred to as asynchronous communication; because you are not receiving feedback onsite like you would in a regular face to face classroom. To be honest with you it was a little frustrating learning how to navigate thru everything but once I had spoken to my advisors and they explained to me how everything worked things went so much smoother. As the time has gone by I have gotten the hang of it and I think you would pick up the process pretty easily too. Hope that this information has shown you that there is a way for you to continue your education just like I am.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Marketing Mix at Dell Inc

Marketing can be viewed as a set of functions that include product development, packaging, pricing, advertising, selling, distribution and customer service.  Marketing tactics are referred to as the â€Å"4Ps†: product,  place, promotion, and price. (Kotler, 2003). The marketing mix is probably the most famous phrase in marketing. It was James Culliton, who coined the expression Marketing Mix and it was Jerome McCarthy, who described the variables of marketing mix in terms of the four Ps. The product variables include: 1. Product line and range, 2. Design, quality, features, models, style, size and warranty, 3. Packaging, type, materials, label, 4. Branding and trade mark, 5. Service, pre-sale and after-sale, 6. New Products. The place variables are: 1. Channels of distributions, types of intermediaries, channel policy and design, location of outlets, channel remuneration, and dealer-principal relations, 2. Physical distribution, transportation, warehousing, inventory, order processing, etc. The price variables are: 1. Pricing policies, levels of prices, levels of margins, discounts and rebates, 2. Terms of delivery, payment terms, credit terms and installment facilities, 3. Resale price maintenance. Promotion variables are: 1. Personal selling, objectives, quality of sales force, cost level, level of motivation, and level of effort, 2. Advertising, media mix, budgets, allocations, and programs, 3. Sales promotional efforts, display, contests, trade promotions, 4. Publicity and public relations. The application of marketing mix in the case of Dell Inc. can be illustrated as follows: About Dell: Dell Inc. supplies PCs to business and domestic customers across the globe using direct marketing approach. In addition, Dell supplies a range of IT products and services to businesses, including powerful servers, storage, workstations, notebooks, and desktops. Dell employs approximately 47,800 people worldwide. Total sales currently exceed $43.5bn per annum. Product: Dell places product quality as one of the main criteria. Recently Dell voluntarily recalled certain Dell-branded batteries with cells manufactured by Sony and offered free replacements for these batteries.   This is because it has been found that under rare conditions, it is possible for these batteries to overheat, which could pose a risk of fire. This measure shows how much importance Dell places on product quality. The main part of Dell’s success is its strategy of offering consumers ‘choice and control’ when it comes to product purchase. Buyers can click through Dell and assemble computer system piece by piece, choosing components like hard drive size and processor speed based on their budgets and needs.   This direct contact with consumers gives Dell a competitive advantage. Dell's approach to innovation is customer driven. Moreover, Dell has returned to one year standard warranties on all its products. Dell builds computers on a just-in-time (JIT), build-to-order (BTO) basis. Therefore, if a new technology emerges it can be included immediately. Promotion: By catering to customers across nations from the internet and through regional centers, Dell has acquired the location strategy advantage. From 1999, Dell has engaged in extensive marketing campaigns. The â€Å"Be Direct† promotion campaign has changed the way consumer view Dell. The campaign focus on consumer benefits of new technology rather than comparing its products with other rival products or company. Dell advertises in the national newspapers, computer magazines, on the Internet and TV and by placing inserts in newspapers and magazines. Dell's advertising campaigns are designed with one central objective – to get a potential customer to ring up or go online and order a computer. Dell measures the impact of each individual marketing campaign by assessing the volume of calls to sales representatives and the number of clicks to the Dell website. The company also uses direct mail. Dell publishes various 24-page monthly catalogues, describing available product ranges. Different catalogues are geared to separate Dell markets – one for the small businesses and the other for domestic customers. This is sent to a selected group of customers who are on Dell's mailing lists. The Internet offers many advantages to a direct marketing company. Products can be shown and described in detail on a website. Customers can browse at their leisure without leaving their home or office (Business2000, 2005). Dell has long been using rebates and discounts as part of its promotion campaign. This helped it to survive competition in the industry. Dell often used to offer brief promotions such as extra memory or a free flat-panel display that might not have remained available if a consumer took a day or two to make a purchasing decision. Rebates have long been popular with electronics retailers, because they allow for higher list prices and because many customers never bother filling out the forms. Price: Dell is able to offer competitive pricing mainly because it uses the JIT – Just in time inventory model. The JIT/BTO approach means that Dell does not have to keep stocks of components or readymade computers. At Dell Inc. usually no component is in the factory for more than three days (Business2000, 2005). Stock, which is also called inventory, costs money. Dell does not have these costs and, therefore, can sell to the customer at a lower price. Further, by having regionalized production centers, Dell has diversified the risk of concentration of labor, production costs, and transportation costs. When production and transportation costs are cut down, the pricing can be competitive. For example basing plants in Xiamen, China Dell has been able to provide products and services at the local prices. By following a business model that allows a consumer to design his own computer cost of carrying inventory is minimized. This allows the company to offer its products at competitive rates. Place: The company manufactures its computer systems in six locations: Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Eldorado do Sul, Brazil (Americas); Limerick, Ireland (Europe, Middle East and Africa); Penang, Malaysia (Asia Pacific and Japan) and Xiamen, China (China). Dell sells its products and services worldwide†¦ By catering to customers across nations from the internet and through regional centers, Dell has acquired the location strategy advantage. The company's strategy of selling over the Internet — with no retail outlets and no middleman — has been as discussed, admired and imitated as any e-commerce model.   Dell's e-commerce website, www.dell.com, is one of the busiest in the world. The site is distributed across 86 countries, using 28 languages or dialects and 29 different currencies (Business2000, 2005). On the website, customers can review, configure, and price computer systems for themselves. They can place an order online and then track the order from the manufacturing stage to actual delivery. This gives greater market reach to the company. Conclusion: Dell is one of the most successful companies in the world. Though we may study the marketing mix in order to understand the success of Dell Inc., it must be mentioned that the Dell combination of direct marketing and just-in-time, build-to-order manufacturing brings the benefits of low cost and high quality to each and every customer. It is this focus on customer value that is truly responsible for Dell's market leadership position. Bibliography: Annual Report, Dell Inc., 2005 Official Website, Dell Inc., 2006, http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/background/en/facts?c=us&l=en&s=corp&~section=000 Philip Kotler, Marketing Management, 2003. Business2000 (2005). Dell- Directly from Dell to the Customer. http://www.business2000.ie/cases/cases_8th/case1.htm   

Friday, January 3, 2020

Project Management Of The Project - 1246 Words

The proposal writing process is multifaceted, encompassing both the actual submission of a request for proposal as well as the management of the implementation of received funds. Through class lectures and assigned readings, we’ve discussed the various aspects that make up the process of grant writing. Through this essay, I will explain this process as it leads up the management of the project once funded. Furthermore, this essay will explain how to ensure that the proposal submitted addresses key aspects necessary for the project to be implemented in line with best practices for project management. A grant is a monetary award of financial assistance (Neitzey, 2016). Grants are typically awarded for the purpose of providing a recipient,†¦show more content†¦Provided the fact that proposals are the gateway to grant funding, there are a few keys to ensuring that an organization submits a successful proposal. The first step is to document an unmet community need that the grant seeker is in a position to address (Neitzey, 2016). By demonstrating that a problem exists, organizations are more likely to explain who will benefit should the project be funded. Furthermore, by highlighting the problem, the organization is more capable of articulating the overall impact the project will have on those who are negatively impacted by the lack of a project addressing the problem. The second step is to demonstrate a clear plan for the program (Neitzey, 2016). Once developed, the plan successfully articulates the organization’s ability to identify themselves as a unique, yet impactful organization. Essentially, the plan is to show that the organization has the necessary resources to successfully end or minimize the problem discussed earlier in the proposal. The third step is to thoroughly research funders, competitors, and potential partners (Neitzey, 2016). Perhaps this is the most important step, due to the fact that without the funding there will still be a need in the community. However, when organizations are seeking funding, they should rely on funding that align with their mission. By doing so, they are not mission drifting, and they are applying for funds